Navy Helicopter Crash: Bandits Flee Niger State Forests, Release Kidnapped Victims

Bandits causing unrest in Niger State forests have reportedly started fleeing following reports of recent military onslaught in the region.

Reports obtained by Naija News on Sunday morning claimed that the bandits have begun to release some abductees in their camps.

It was gathered that some of the farmers abducted about five months ago around Kaffin Korro, Munya and some parts of Shiroro have now been released.

Speculations are that the bandits who are anticipating the onslaught following the recent crash of a military helicopter linked to the Gide Dogo bandits group are retreating to neighbouring states.

Leadership quoted a source from the communities around the Shiroro axis where the bandits had held sway in the past three weeks to have said the assailants were no longer coming out bracingly to operate as they did in previous weeks.

The development is coming on the heels of the disclaimer by the Niger State police command that no notorious bandit had declared himself governor in the state.

The police command in a statement by its spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, said no bandit had declared himself governor as reported in some mainstream and social media.

He said; “The command wishes to state categorically with all sense of responsibility that such publication is false in its entirety, and it only exists in the figment of the imagination of the author.

“The joint security teams in the state in collaboration with the state government are working assiduously to address the security challenges at hand, while tactical teams are placed at strategic locations within the volatile areas for security coverage.”

He called for calm and advised members of the public to ignore the publication, as it was an attempt by mischief makers to cause panic.